Norway Set To Plug Into Britain

May 12, 2003

Norway has proposed laying the world's longest undersea
power cable to enable it to plug into Britain.
Statkraft, the state electricity company, said the
cable, with a projected cost of £750 million, would
stretch 465 miles across the North Sea from southern
Norway to Britain.

The Norwegian concern is working with the privately
held British power company National Grid Transco on
the project, dubbed the North Sea Interconnector.

Norway, one of the world's largest oil exporters,
produces virtually all of its own electricity from
clean hydroelectric plants. However, unusually
dry weather can deplete reservoirs, resulting in shortages
and soaring prices.

Statkraft chairwoman Grete Faremo said the main goal
of the project is to ensure stable power supplies to
the northern country of 4.5 million, and to allow exports
of surplus electricity to Britain in the years the county
gets heavy rain and snow. Statkraft said it is
working on application to Norway's Ministry of Oil and
Energy for a permit to build the power line.